34 Quotes & Sayings By Sara Teasdale

Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) was an American poet, author, and critic. She was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Her father was a successful lawyer who died when she was five years old. She moved to New York City with her mother in 1892, where she attended Barnard College and Columbia University Read more

Teasdale's early poetry was heavily influenced by her love of nature, but after she married in 1907, she turned to writing only occasionally. For the next few years she traveled widely, including several stays in Europe. She published several volumes of poems during this period, but also wrote prose essays and criticism.

Teasdale suffered from depression and was unable to complete several volumes of poetry, which were published posthumously in 1938.

1
Stephen kissed me in the spring, Robin in the fall, But Colin only looked at me And never kissed at all. Stephen’s kiss was lost in jest, Robin’s lost in play, But the kiss in Colin’s eyes Haunts me night and day. Sara Teasdale
In my heart's most secret place, I pity them as...
2
In my heart's most secret place, I pity them as angels do. Sara Teasdale
It is strange how often a heart must be broken...
3
It is strange how often a heart must be broken Before the years can make it wise. Sara Teasdale
4
I thought of you and how you love this beauty, And walking up the long beach all alone I heard the waves breaking in measured thunder As you and I once heard their monotone. Around me were the echoing dunes, beyond me The cold and sparkling silver of the sea --We two will pass through death and ages lengthen Before you hear that sound again with me. Sara Teasdale
You will recognize your own path when you come upon...
5
You will recognize your own path when you come upon it because you will suddenly have all the energy and imagination you will ever need. Sara Teasdale
6
I am not yours, not lost in you, Not lost, although I long to be Lost as a candle lit at noon, Lost as a snowflake in the sea. You love me, and I find you still A spirit beautiful and bright, Yet I am I, who long to be Lost as a light is lost in light. Sara Teasdale
I shall have peace, as leafy trees are peaceful When...
7
I shall have peace, as leafy trees are peaceful When rain bends down the bough; And I shall be more silent and cold-hearted Than you are now. Sara Teasdale
I have no riches but my thoughts, Yet these are...
8
I have no riches but my thoughts, Yet these are wealth enough for me Sara Teasdale
Let me remember you, soon will the winter be on...
9
Let me remember you, soon will the winter be on us, Snow-hushed and heartless. Sara Teasdale
What do I care, in the dreams and the languor...
10
What do I care, in the dreams and the languor of spring, That my songs do not show me at all? For they are a fragrance, and I am a flint and a fire, I am an answer, they are only a call Sara Teasdale
11
Spend all you have for loveliness, Buy it and never count the cost; For one white singing hour of peace Count many a year of strife well lost, And for a breath of ecstasy Give all you have been, or could be. Sara Teasdale
Never fear the thing you feel-- Only by love is...
12
Never fear the thing you feel-- Only by love is life made real Sara Teasdale
13
Child, child, love while you can The voice and the eyes and the soul of a man; Never fear though it break your heart- Out of the wound new joy will start; Only love proudly and gladly and well, Though love be heaven or love be hell. Child, child, love while you may, For life is short as a happy day; Never fear the thing you feel- Only by love is life made real; Love, for the deadly sins are seven, Only through love will you enter heaven. Sara Teasdale
14
This is the spot where I will lie When life has had enough of me, These are the grasses that will blow Above me like a living sea. These gay old lilies will not shrink To draw their life from death of mine, And I will give my body's fire To make blue flowers on this vine." O Soul, " I said, "have you no tears? Was not the body dear to you?" I heard my soul say carelessly, "The myrtle flowers will grow more blue. Sara Teasdale
15
I would not have a god come in To shield me suddenly from sin, And set my house of life to rights; Nor angels with bright burning wings Ordering my earthly thoughts and things; Rather my own frail guttering lights Wind blown and nearly beaten out; Rather the terror of the nights And long, sick groping after doubt; Rather be lost than let my soul Slip vaguely from my own control -- Of my own spirit let me be In sole though feeble mastery. Sara Teasdale
16
Down the hill I went, and then, I forgot the ways of men, For night-scents, heady and damp and cool Wakened ecstasy Sara Teasdale
17
Oh I must pass nothing by Without loving it much, The raindrop try with my lips, The grass with my touch; For how can I be sure I shall see again The world on the first of MayShining after the rain? Sara Teasdale
18
From my spirit's gray defeat, From my pulse's flagging beat, From my hopes that turned to sand Sifting through my close-clenched hand, From my own fault's slavery, If I can sing, I still am free. For with my singing I can make A refuge for my spirit's sake, A house of shining words, to be My fragile immortality. Sara Teasdale
19
I almost gave my life long ago for a thing That has gone to dust now, stinging my eyes– It is strange how often a heart must be broken Before the years can make it wise. Sara Teasdale
20
I saw the sunset-colored sands, The Nile like flowing fire between, Where Rameses stares forth serene, And Ammon's heavy temple stands. I saw the rocks where long ago, Above the sea that cries and breaks, Swift Perseus with Medusa's snakes Set free the maiden white like snow. And many skies have covered me, And many winds have blown me forth, And I have loved the green, bright north, And I have loved the cold, sweet sea. But what to me are north and south, And what the lure of many lands, Since you have leaned to catch my hands And lay a kiss upon my mouth. . Sara Teasdale
21
It was a night of early spring, The winter-sleep was scarcely broken; Around us shadows and the wind Listened for what was never spoken. Though half a score of years are gone, Spring comes as sharply now as then– But if we had it all to do It would be done the same again. It was a spring that never came; But we have lived enough to know That what we never have, remains; It is the things we have that go. Sara Teasdale
22
I went back to the clanging city, I went back where my old loves stayed, But my heart was full of my new love's glory, My eyes were laughing and unafraid. I met one who had loved me madly And told his love for all to hear -- But we talked of a thousand things together, The past was buried too deep to fear. I met the other, whose love was given With never a kiss and scarcely a word -Oh, it was then the terror took me Of words unuttered that breathed and stirred. Oh, love that lives its life with laughter Or love that lives its life with tears Can die - but love that is never spoken Goes like a ghost through the winding years… I went back to the clanging city, I went back where my old loves stayed, My heart was full of my new love's glory, - But my eyes were suddenly afraid. . Sara Teasdale
23
I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes. Sara Teasdale
24
Beauty more than bitterness Makes the heart break. Sara Teasdale
25
I make the most of all that comes And the least of all that goes. Sara Teasdale
26
I have no riches but my thoughts. Yet these are wealth enough for me. Sara Teasdale
27
Though I know he loves me tonight my heart is sad his kiss was not so wonderful as all the dreams I had. Sara Teasdale
28
Joy was a flame in me Too steady to destroy. Lithe as a bending reed Loving the storm that sways her - I found more joy in sorrow Than you could find in joy. Sara Teasdale
29
Life is but thought. Sara Teasdale
30
Life has loveliness to sell, all beautiful and splendid things, blue waves whitened on a cliff, soaring fire that sways and sings, and children's faces looking up, holding wonder like a cup. Sara Teasdale
31
Beauty, more than bitterness, makes the heart break. Sara Teasdale
32
Wisdom is not acquired save as the result of investigation. Sara Teasdale
33
When I can look life in the eyes, grown calm and very coldly wise, life will have given me the truth, and taken in exchange - my youth. Sara Teasdale